DRIED CHERRY OR CRANBERRY LOAF

Steps:

• Place cherries (or cranberries) in a container with a very tight fitting lid.
• Pour liqueur and hot water over the cherries, seal the lid tightly, and shake to coat cherries well with the liquid.
• Set aside 3 hours or overnight so cherries will absorb the liquid.
• Preheat oven to 350 F (or 325 F for a pan with a black surface).
• Grease a loaf pan and lightly dust with plain dry breadcrumbs, shaking out excess.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and the salt.
• In another bowl, cream the butter and the cream cheese until smooth.
• Add the sugars, and the finely grated lemon zest and beat until well combined and pale yellow.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Add the flour mixture, beating on low speed, just until the flour is combined.
• Stir in the cherries and any liquid still in the soaking container.
• Pour batter into the pan and smooth top with a rubber spatula.
• Bake in the center of the oven for 45-60 minutes- or until a toothpick insterted in the center tests clean, checking as early as 40 minutes into the baking time- if it is getting too brown, cover loosely with foil and continue baking until the toothpick tests done.
• Expect the top of the loaf to crack.
• Let cool in the pan 15 minutes, then remove from pan and set onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Wrap in plastic and let set overnight before slicing.
• For extra decadence, drizzle a little more liqueur over the crack before wrapping in plastic- don't pour too much or you'll soak the bread.